Hegseth says US Army will grow by 2027

BAGHDAD, Iraq — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said reforms have been launched to increase military personnel, with the goal of raising troop numbers by 2027. He made the remarks at the West Point Military Academy graduation ceremony in New York. Hegseth said the army will become larger with planned increases next year. He also said recruiting targets for 2026 had been fully met. The move comes as part of what was described as a strategy to re-optimize the US military’s personnel structure. US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Keane said in May that the current number of troops was about 1.8 million. The US military has faced a serious personnel shortage after falling short of recruiting targets by 23 percent in 2022 and 25 percent in 2023, according to the text. The administration is planning new reforms to rebuild its military strength.